Celebratory wine kit

ABSTRACT

A beverage kit includes a box. A bottle separator is disposed within the box and defines a predetermined number of separated spaces therein. A planar member defines a plurality of holes passing therethrough. Each of the plurality holes is aligned with a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces defined by the bottle separator. A planar member includes sequential indicia next to each of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order to the holes. Each of plurality of cylindrical bottles contains a predetermined amount of a beverage therein. Each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles is disposed in a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces. A portion of each cylindrical bottle extends outwardly from a corresponding one of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a kit for beverages and, more specifically, to a kit for wine used in celebrations, education and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many different beverages are used to celebrate different holidays, or other events. Some individuals like to pair specific beverages to specific holidays. In some occasions, individuals like to imbibe in different beverages in an ordered manner. Much of this is ad hoc, in which each individual imbibes in a series of beverages in an ordering according to a personal preference. Some experts have recommended specific orderings of beverages (e.g., different wines) to accentuate qualities of the beverages.

In educating users about different types of wine, the educator typically presents the students several different wines for the sake of comparison. In certain situations, it could be useful to present wines in a predetermined sequence so as to make the differences clearer to the student. However, merely sending a student several different bottles of wine with instructions regarding the order in which they are to be consumed can be confusing to the student.

Therefore, there is a need for a kit that sets forth a specific ordering of beverages according to a recommendation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is a beverage kit including a box, a bottle separator, a planar member and a plurality of cylindrical bottles. The bottle separator is disposed within the box and defines a predetermined number of separated spaces therein. The planar member defines a plurality of holes passing therethrough. Each of the plurality holes is aligned with a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces defined by the bottle separator. The planar member includes sequential indicia next to each of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order to the holes. Each of plurality of cylindrical bottles contains a predetermined amount of a beverage therein. Each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles is disposed in a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces. A portion of each cylindrical bottle extends outwardly from a corresponding one of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.

In another aspect, the invention is a wine kit that includes a box and a bottle separator disposed within the box. The bottle separator defines a predetermined number of separated spaces therein. The bottle separator includes a block of foam having outer dimensions that are complementary to inner dimensions of the box. Each of the separated spaces includes a cylindrical passage that is complementary in shape to one of the cylindrical bottles. A planar member defines a plurality of holes passing therethrough. Each of the plurality holes is aligned with a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces defined by the bottle separator. The planar member includes a sequential indicia next to each of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order to the holes. Each of a plurality of cylindrical bottles contains a predetermined amount of a different wine therein. Each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles is disposed in a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces and a portion of each cylindrical bottle extends outwardly from a corresponding one of the holes. The sequential indicia indicate an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a method of presenting a beverage for consumption, in which a sequential indicia is printed on a planar member to indicate an order in which units of the beverage are to be consumed. A plurality of holes is cut in the planar member next to each unit of sequential indicia. A bottle separator is formed so as to define a predetermined number of separated spaces therein so that each of the separated spaces is disposed so as to be in alignment with a different one of the plurality of holes. The bottle separator is placed into a box and the planar member is placed on top of the bottle separator. A different cylindrical bottle full of a beverage is placed into a corresponding one of the separated spaces through each corresponding hole.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a celebratory wine kit.

FIG. 1B is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A with a lid.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A taken along line 1C-1C.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosure that follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2, one embodiment of a celebratory beverage kit 100 includes a box 110, which can include a paperboard box, with an indented top ledge portion 112 that is configured to fit within a lid 114. A bottle separator 118, which can include a filler material such as a foam, is placed within the box 110. In one embodiment, the separator 118 includes a block of foam having outer dimensions that are complementary to inner dimensions of the box 110. A number of spaces 119, such as cylindrical passages, are defined by the bottle separator 118. A planar member 120 has a plurality of holes 122 passing therethrough. Each of the plurality holes 122 is aligned with a different one of the spaces 119 defined by the bottle separator 118. Sequential indicia 140 are printed next to each of the holes 122 and indicate an ordering to the holes 122. The sequential indicia 140 could include, for example, something as simple as numbering or something more complex, such as a date assigned to each hole 122. For example, in a “12 Days of Christmas” embodiment, the indicia 140 could indicate the dates from December 25^(th) through January 5^(th). Similarly, the ordering can correspond to a desired ordering of consumption for educational purposes. It will be understood that the invention is not limited by the purpose of the ordering.

Each of a plurality of bottles 130, for example cylindrical bottles contains a beverage (such as wine, wherein each bottle 130 contains a different wine). (While the embodiment shown employs 12 different bottles, it is to be understood that any number of bottles greater than one can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.) Each of the bottles 130 is disposed in a different one of the spaces 119 so that a portion of each bottle 130 extends outwardly from the corresponding hole 122. Typically, each of the bottles 130 is sealed with a screw cap 131 for convenience of opening. The indicia indicate an order by which it is suggested that the beverage in each bottle 130 is to be consumed.

Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages. Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It is understood that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. The operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set. It is intended that the claims and claim elements recited below do not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim. The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage kit, comprising: (a) a box; (b) a bottle separator disposed within the box, the bottle separator defining a predetermined number of separated spaces therein; (c) a planar member that defines a plurality of holes passing therethrough, each of the plurality holes aligned with a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces defined by the bottle separator, the planar member including sequential indicia next to each of the holes, the sequential indicia indicating an order to the holes; and (d) a plurality of cylindrical bottles, each containing a predetermined amount of a beverage therein, each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles disposed in a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces and a portion of each cylindrical bottle extending outwardly from a corresponding one of the holes, wherein the sequential indicia indicates an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.
 2. The beverage kit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles contains a beverage of a different type.
 3. The beverage kit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles contains a wine.
 4. The beverage kit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles is sealed with a screw cap.
 5. The beverage kit of claim 1, wherein the sequential indicia includes a sequence of numbers.
 6. The beverage kit of claim 1, wherein the bottle separator comprises a block of foam having outer dimensions that are complementary to inner dimensions of the box and wherein each of the separated spaces comprises a cylindrical passage that is complementary in shape to one of the cylindrical bottles.
 7. A wine kit, comprising: (a) a box; (b) a bottle separator disposed within the box, the bottle separator defining a predetermined number of separated spaces therein, the bottle separator including a block of foam having outer dimensions that are complementary to inner dimensions of the box and wherein each of the separated spaces comprises a cylindrical passage that is complementary in shape to one of the cylindrical bottles; (c) a planar member that defines a plurality of holes passing therethrough, each of the plurality holes aligned with a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces defined by the bottle separator, the planar member including a sequential indicia next to each of the holes, the sequential indicia indicating an order to the holes; and (d) a plurality of cylindrical bottles, each containing a predetermined amount of a different wine therein, each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles disposed in a different one of the predetermined number of separated spaces and a portion of each cylindrical bottle extending outwardly from a corresponding one of the holes, wherein the sequential indicia indicates an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.
 8. The wine kit of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical bottles is sealed with a screw cap.
 9. The wine kit of claim 7, wherein the sequential indicia includes a sequence of numbers.
 10. A method of presenting a beverage for consumption, comprising the steps of: (a) printing a sequential indicia on a planar member to indicate an order in which units of the beverage are to be consumed; (b) cutting a plurality of holes in the planar member next to each unit of sequential indicia; (c) forming a bottle separator so as to define a predetermined number of separated spaces therein and so that each of the separated spaces is disposed so as to be in alignment with a different one of the plurality of holes; (d) placing the bottle separator into a box and placing the planar member on top of the bottle separator; and (e) placing a different cylindrical bottle full of a beverage into a corresponding one of the separated spaces through each corresponding hole.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each cylindrical bottle contains a different wine.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sequential indicia comprises a sequence of numbers.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the sequential indicia indicates an order by which the beverage in each cylindrical bottle is to be consumed.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming bottle separator comprises the step of defining a plurality of cylindrical passages in a block of foam. 